The US stands ready, willing and able to offer assistance. It is often thefirst country to send in millions of dollars, navy strike groups loaded withfood and medical supplies, and transport planes, helicopters and floatinghospitals to help those devastated by natural disaster.

Then, just as swift and with equal predictability, those wedded to theGreat Satan view of the US begin to carp, drawing on a potent mixture ofcynicism and conspiracy theories to criticise the last remaining superpower.

When the US keeps doing so much of the heavy lifting to alleviate suffering,you'd figure that the anti-Americans might eventually revise their view of theUS.

But they never do. And coming under constant attack even when helpingothers, you'd figure that Americans would eventually draw the curtains onworld crises. But they haven't. At least not yet.

So it was last week. The US stood ready to help the cyclone-ravaged Burmesepeople. It did not matter that Burma's ruling junta was no friend of theAmericans. With more than 100,000 people feared dead and many more hundreds of thousands left destitute, US Air Force cargo planes loaded with supplies andpersonnel started arriving in nearby Thailand to begin humanitarian operationsin Burma

A US Navy strike group in the Gulf of Thailand sent helicopters ashore,ready to arrive in Burma within hours. Alas, Burma's military leaders left theirpeople to die for 10 days before finally accepting help from the evil empire.Even if the Yanks are allowed to boost their assistance to Burma, they canexpect a groundswell of criticism.

Back in 2004, the Americans - along with the Australians - arrived within hoursto help the hundreds of thousands of people left devastated by the Boxing Daytsunami in Asia. A US carrier group steamed towards Indonesia's Aceh province. Asecond US Marine Corps strike force made its way to Sri Lanka with water, foodand medical supplies.

The Pentagon spent millions of dollars sending C-130 transport planes from Dubaito Indonesia with tents, blankets, food and water. A navy chief in charge ofco-ordination efforts said the US would deliver "as much help as soon as we can,as long as we're needed".

The resentment that comes from needing the military and economic might of the UStranslated into the most absurd criticism. Jan Egeland, the former UN boss ofhumanitarian affairs, cavilled about the stinginess of certain Western nations.His eye was on the US. Former British minister Claire Short was equally miffed,describing the initiative by the US and other countries as "yet another attemptto undermine the UN", which was, according to her, the "only body that has themoral authority" to help.

I love moral authority as much as the next guy, but the UN's moral authority isa mighty hard sell given that the UN club includes the most odious regimes inthe world, such as Burma. And notice how the UN's moral authority did notquickly translate into helicopters laden with food and water?

When the UN finally does anything of use, it's propelled in large part by USdollars, with the US contributing more than any other country. Those othergiants, China and Russia, are not filling the coffers of the UN's moralauthority.

Then came the even more toxic comparisons between Iraq and US humanitarianassistance in Asia. In the anti-American mind, opposition to one US policy meansblasting everything the Americans do. Of course, Egypt's Al Akhbar newspapersaid the US was helping tsunami victims to "consolidate its hegemony" and hadnothing to do with humanitarian and moral principles.

But similarly rank reasoning was common. London's The Guardian newspaper columnist George Monbiot was not alone in sneering at US marines who, just a few weeks before saving lives in Sri Lanka, were "murdering civilians, smashing the homes and evicting the entire population of the Iraqi city of Fallujah".

The need to paint Americans as a greedy, selfish, war-mongering superpowercannot be disturbed by facts. It matters not that, in the year before thetsunami, the US provided $2.4 billion in humanitarian relief: 40per cent of allthe relief aid given to the world in 2003. Never mind that development andemergency relief rose from $10 billion during the last year of Bill Clinton'sadministration to $24 billion under George W. Bush in 2003. Or that, accordingto a German study, Americans contribute to charities nearly seven times as mucha head as Germans do. Or that, adjusted for population, American philanthropy ismore than two-thirds more than British giving.

There is a teenaged immaturity about the rest of the world's relationship withthe US. Whenever a serious crisis erupts somewhere, our dependence on the USbecomes obvious, and many hate the US because of it. That the hatred isirrational is beside the point

We can denounce the Yanks for being Muslim-hating flouters of international lawwhile demanding the US rescue Bosnian Muslims from Serbia without UN authority.We can be disgusted by crass American materialism and ridiculous stockpiling ofworldly goods yet also be the first to demand material help from the US whendisaster strikes.

The really unfortunate part about this adolescent love-hate relationship withthe US is that, unlike most teenagers, many never seem to grow out of it. Withineach new generation is a vicious strain of irrational anti-Americanism. Butunlike a parent, the US could just get sick of it all and walk away.

The US has had isolationist periods in the past and it must be enormouslytempted sometimes to have another one soon. The consequences of that possibilitydeserve some serious thought. If the neighbours worry about Russian bullyingover oil and gas, just imagine a Russia unfettered by a US military presence inEurope. How long would South Korea, Israel or Taiwan last if the US decided itwanted to spend on itself the money it presently devotes to military spending inthe Middle East and Asia?

No country has as many or as strident critics - internally and externally - asthe US. The US actually promotes such debate. But just occasionally we shouldmoderate that criticism when circumstances demand a dose of fairness.

Indeed, why not break into a standing ovation every now and again? As more USC-130s and helicopters stand waiting on Burma's doorstep, desperate to help ashattered populace and stymied only by an appalling anti-US regime, this is oneof those times.

A pat on the back is nice for a change. Unlike the not-so-free world, we actually listen to our critics, as opposed to offing them or slapping them in a gulag. Although an open debate requires some sort of opposition, it does get tiresome.

Wow, I am a 49 year old proud southern American from Alabama who's dream has always been to visit "down under". Now I know why, I will try and paste an email I sent to my friends last week.....you see I care deeply what happens in Iraq, especialy the Anbar Province because my 20 year old son, Marine LCP C.J. is serving there and lost 4 of his fellow marines on 5/3/08 including his very best friend. I hope the email attaches. God bless you Aussies!! Semper Fidelis......Proud Dad of US Marine LCP CJ Sutherland

As you have either read or seen on T.V., we lost four Marines Friday, 5/2/2008 in Anbar Province, Iraq.

C.J. called this morning (Sunday1:30 A.M.) to let us know that his convoy had been hit. As you know he is the gunner in the scout vehicle (lead vehicle) providing security to all missions in the Anbar Province area. While on their mission Friday in a three vehicle convoy, they passed over an area where he felt that something wasn't right and as he turned his gunner turret around backwards to see what was bothering him, the HUMVEE behind him was blown up by an IED…….I would like to share a little background before I continue…….

>From the time he graduated from boot camp C.J. has had many, many very good friends in the Marine Corps. The Marines have celebrated their birthday every year since 1775 and the annual celebration is respectfully referred to as the Marine Corp Ball. Most Marines invite their wives, husbands, or dates at this time honored event. Last October, C.J. called to invite me, his Dad to the ball in Las Vegas. I had no idea at the time I would "bump" our future daughter-in-law from the ball.

Except for his boot camp graduation, the ball was one of the most exhilarating events of my life. I experienced wave after wave of goose bumps during the ceremony and felt honored to be among their midst (even though Chris and I served four years in the U.S. Air Force , It ain't the same). I spent "one" of the best four days of my life getting to know his very good friends as previously mentioned, a couple of whom either had no fathers or mothers or family what so ever and the Marines were their last hope. Kinda like the movie Officer and a Gentlemen ( "I got no place to go!"), the Marine Corp turned these "boys" into extremely humble, confident, self respecting, honorable men.

Before I left Vegas, I told Chris that "that was the best time I had in my life".......except for when we got married....and told her I had invited his buddies to spend New Years Eve with us, even though I knew they probably could not make it because of the logistics involved. Between November and the New Years holiday, C.J. got married (eloped) back in Las Vegas with LCP James Kimple and LCP Nathan Tate serving as their best man and "maid of honor".

We received confirmation that we would not only meet our daughter in law, but she and several of his buddies would spend New Years Eve with us after all. I was still somewhat skeptical the guys could make it, C.J. flew in first and then we welcomed our daughter in law, Bridgett into our lives. LCP Cody Freeman flew in from Sacramento, CA, LCP Adam Allen flew in from Seattle, WA. CPL T.J. Hubbard drove up from South Florida, as did a recently honorably discharged Marine from North Mississippi that I can't at the moment remember his name. Chris finally had the opportunity to experience the "one of the best four days " of her life and we "un-officially" adopted these Marines as our sons. We had a great time, however, C.J. was disappointed one of best friends and room mate, LCP James Kimple could not make the trip.

Originally, LCP James Kimple was to drive down from Ohio and then C.J., T.J. and Kimple planned on driving back to CA. C.J. notified us that they were deploying to Iraq in Feb, so Chris, Laura and I flew out to 29 Palms, Ca to spend a week with them and see them the day they departed for Iraq. Again, these were some of the best days and memories of our lives. Because of his schedule, we did not have the opportunity to meet LCP James Kimple. LCP James Kimple, looked at moving to Daphne, AL after he got out of the Marines. He was working on his resume' and was to email it to Chris and I so we could help him find a job once his 4 years were completed (he was separating before C.J.).

In today's world, most 18-22 year olds often make the news for the wrong reasons, i.e., drugs, crime or even look at some of our elite college football players who after receiving full scholarships, still can't stay out of trouble. These Marines are the same age as the football players of our favorite college teams that we pull for every fall, yet I am continually amazed that this country still has young men who regardless of why they joined , once they are Marines, embrace this country's history, heritage, duty, honor and commitment. All the while we worry about high gas prices, the cold winter, the volatile stock market, and whether we are going to boycott the Olympics in China, our Marines, Army, and Air Force troops are literally putting their lives on the line every second of every day. While we slept comfortably in our beds sometime around 10 P.M. our time, C.J.'s unit was called for another mission. While C.J. was getting ready for the mission, LCP James Kimple wanted to show C.J. something he had just received in the mail and was really excited. C.J. tried to tell James "show me later, we have to go", but James told him, " look at the picture I just got in the mail of my son, man I am going to carry it everywhere I go".

Now I will continue with the conversation,

....After the blast, C.J. and Scotty were the first one to reach the blown apart vehicle to attempt to rescue their Marine buddies, C.J. knew full well his one of his best friend was inside........the following detail are somewhat sketchy ……….

After pulling out their friends and finding no survivors, ........redacted...........wound up in a ......................redacted..........their fallen buddies. C.J.'s turn on the phone was almost up when after all he had been through, he said that he couldn't get James' wife, son and daughter off his mind. James and C.J. made a promise to each other that if something happened to the other one, they would look out and be there for their family. We asked what we could do for any of them and he requested only one thing, please go to Ohio and represent C.J. and all of the other Marines in his unit. If I could I would go to all four funerals for the following Marines who died doing what they loved to do. SEMPER FI

-21 year old LCP James Kimple (Ohio) leaves behind his wife Amber, 3 year old son Drake and 1 year old daughter Maleah in Ohio. I will be attending his funeral Saturday 5/10/2008 representing C.J. and his friends from CLB-1 at C.J.'s request.

-22 year old LCP Casey Casanova (Mississippi) leaves behind her Marine fiancé' based at Camp Pendleton, CA Chris and Laura will be attending her funeral representing CLB-1, 5/10/2008

-21 year old CPL Miguel Guzman (CA)

-31 year old Sergeant Glen Martinez (Colorado). His wife, Melissa Sue Martinez, also a Marine sergeant assigned to Fallujah, will accompany her husband's body to Monte Vista, CO where services are pending. SGT Martinez was their leader, a true mentor who inspired C.J. and his buddies. C.J. said they all kinda feel lost without their Sgt.

Even though C.J. did not ask us to, Chris and I want to honor LCP James Kimple and help Amber, Drake, and Maleah through the difficult times ahead. Believe me; Lance Corporals do not make much money, especially with two small children. We have set up a memorial fund account at Wachovia Bank. Donations can made out to the LCP James Kimple Memorial Fund at any of their branches in the country. If you decide to donate, Chris and I thank you.

Janet is one of my fav journalists! I posted on one of her pieces last year at http://americasinterests.blogspot.com/2007/09/like-it-or-not-we-still-need-america.html

It was announced earlier this week that Australia would add a further $22 million in aid for the victims of Cyclone Nargis, bringing the total Australia aid contribution to $25 million.

The international community’s willingness to assist the Burmese people has is underlined by the significant increase in the United Kingdom’s offer of assistance, to an overall commitment of $35m, the largest single commitment to date ahead of Australia’s $25m. I think the U.S. commitment is presently $17.8m but expect this to rise...

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